Incontinence device

ABSTRACT

An incontinence device in which a urine collecting bag is provided with a closable outlet with the entry into the urine collecting bag being through a one-way valve and the inlet to the one-way valve having a urine receiving device which may be another bag or a plastic urethra tube adapted for insertion into the vaginal passage.

llnited States Patent Urmero [54] 'INCONTINENCE DEVICE [72] Inventor:George Eric Ormerod, Carnforth, England [73] Assignee: Eric OrmerodLimited, Morecambe, Lancashire, England [22] Filed: Nov. 7, 1969 [21Appl. No.: 874,893

1,630,040 5/1927 Vogt et a1. 137/5251 2,640,484 6/1953 Johnson ..128/2952,755,060 7/1956 Twyman ..137/525.1 2,840,079 6/1958 Conway et a1...128/295 3,109,429 11/1963 Schwartz ..128/350 3,116,734 1/1964 Terman..128/295 3,374,790 3/1968 Mayhorne. 128/295 3,405,714 10/1968 Moss..l28/295 3,463,159 8/1969 Heimlich 128/350 3,528,423 9/1970 Lee..128/295 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-Holman & Stern[5 7] ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures INCONTINIENCE DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices for use bysuffers from incontinence of urine (hereinafter and in the claims simplycalled an incontinence device), and also relates to valves for useespecially but not exclusively in such incontinence devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an incontinencedevice which is comfortable to wear, efficient and hygenic in use, andsimple and economic to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided an incontinence device comprising a flexible bag of water-proofmaterial incorporating a urine collecting chamber having an inlet and aclosable outlet, a one-way valve at the collecting chamber inlet toallow flow only into the collecting chamber, and means for supportingthe bag relative to the wearer so as to receive and collect urine aswhen micturition occurs.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda one-way valve formed of a flexible fluid-tight material in the form ofa tube, and means adjacent the outlet of the tube and adapted to causethe tube to fold over at the outlet to close same if there is anytendency of fluid-flow from the outlet to the inlet of the valve thussealing the valve.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of anincontinence device suitable for use by female persons, the device beingpartly broken away to show the interior;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail view of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale,showing the one-way valve;

FIG. 3 is a further fragmentary detail view showing the oneway functionof the valve;

FIG. 4. is a perspective view of the inlet tube of the incontinencedevice;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of an incontinence device suitable for useby male persons;

FIG. 6 is a saddle suitable for use in a modified incontinence devicefor use by female persons; and,

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a modified incontinence device with adetachable collecting bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The incontinence device illustratedin FIG. 1 comprises a flexible water-proof bag 10 of any convenientmaterial which serves as a urine collecting chamber. The bag 10 isclosed at the bottom save for a small-diameterdrain tube 11, say ofrigid plastic material, which is closable by a removable plug (notshown) or any other convenient form of closure.

The top of the bag 10 has an inlet extension or neck 12 into which urineis first received, and the inlet extension or neck 12 communicates witha one-way valve generally indicated at 13.

A plastic tube 14 is located and conveniently secured within the inletextension or neck 12, and consists of a tubular portion 15 which isdisposed at least partially within the inlet extension or neck 12 and anintegral arcuate wall 16 extending from the tubular portion 15 and thewall 16 tapers away from the tubular portion 15. The tube 14 is ofsmooth configuration and is formed of a non-toxic, non-irritant plasticmaterial which does not react to urine.

A ring 16A is provided at the free end of the arcuate wall 16; it ispreferably molded integral with the tube 14. This ring 16A serves toaccommodate a sanitary towel of the kind which is inserted into thevaginal passage and which expands so that it is retained in position orsimilar expansible medium. Such internal sanitary towels are sold underthe Registered Trade Mark TAMPAX. The ring 16A is of a diameter slightlygreater than the original diameter of the sanitary towel so that whenthe incontinence device is fitted on the patient with the urethra tube14 inserted in the vaginal passage the sanitary towel at least withinthe vaginal passage expands and is firmly gripped by the ring 16A thussecuring the incontinence device more firmly within the patient.

This ring 16A and sanitary towel arrangement serves to give a greatersense of security to the patient and is therefore preferred although itwill be manifest that it is not essential and can, if desired, beomitted.

This tube 14, when the incontinence device is fitted to a female person,is inserted in the vaginal passage and covers the area of the urethra.Urine is therefore immediately passed through this urethra tube 14,through the one-way valve 13 and into the receiving bag 10.

The provision of this urethra tube ensures that a female person remainsdry during incontinence irrespective of her physical attitude, i.e.standing, sitting or recumbent.

The one way valve 13 consists of a flat tube of plastic material withone side 17 extended so that it is longer than the other side 18 at theoutlet of the valve, which, extension, indicated at 19, is folded backon itself to form a pocket in which is housed a weight for example, asmall metal rod 20. The fiat tube valve 13 is secured, for example, heatwelded, to at least one side of the bag 10 to prevent it flapping loosein the bag 10. The pocket and its weight 20 are not so secured so thatthe weighted pocket fiat can turn back on itself as indicated by arrow Aand overlie outlet mouth 21 of the valve 13 thus closing same (see FIG.3).

The valve 13 operates as follows:

Urine enters the valve 13 through the inlet from the urethra tube 14 andflows downwards to the outlet mouth 21 towards the collecting bag orchamber 10. The pressure of the liquid causes the valve 13 to assume asubstantially cylindrical shape, thus allowing egress of liquid from thevalve 13 into the collecting chamber 10.

When all the liquid has passed through the valve 13, it reverts to itsflattened position. If any liquid attempts to flow through the valve 13from outlet mouth 21 to the inlet the weight 20 and pressure of thisliquid causes the free outlet end of the valve tube to fold over asshown in FIG. 3 thus preventing such flow in reverse direction throughthe valve. Any other convenient form of one-way valve may be employed.

In the embodiment described, there is shown straps 22 for securing theincontinence device to the lower abdomen of the wearer, means preferablyalso being provided to secure the bag 10 to the inside of one leg of thewearer. Such means may be a leg strap (not shown) secured at each end tobuttons 23 on the bag.

The bag 10 may conveniently be detachable for emptying purposes, withsuitable securing devices being provided.

In the case of a male patient (see FIG. 5), the urethra tube is replacedby a waterproof bag 30 preferably of plastic which acts as a receivingchamber and into which at least the penis is inserted, although it maybe desirable to insert the whole male genital organs therein. Thereceiving bag 30 communicates with a collecting chamber or bag 31through a one-way valve 32, preferably that described above.Alternatively, the receiving chamber is simply an extension of theone-way valve as described, or the penis may simply be inserted directlyinto the one-way valve 13 via the inlet extension or neck.

The collecting bag 10 or 31 may, as aforesaid, be detachable, beingsecured in position by rigid press-fit tongue-and-slot connections 33(see FIG. 7).

In a modification of the female incontinence device the urethra tube isreplaced by a saddle 34 (see FIGS. 6 or 7) constituted by a rigidplastic member configured to cover or overlie the vaginal orifice andwith a passage 35 therethrough to direct urine into a one-way valve 32,with the plastic vaginal member having an apron or skirt 36 extendingunder the abdomen between the legs and extending slightly up the frontof the abdomen as indicated at 37 to ensure dryness of the patient.Alternatively, the vaginal member may be inserted into the vaginalorifice. The inlet passage 35 to the vaginal member is preferablyelliptical to ensure efficient ingress of urine and the passage throughthe vaginal member is such as to ensure flow into the one-way valveirrespective of the physical attitude of the wearer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the incontinence devicecomprises a flexible double-thickness polyethylene bag having an upperinlet mouth, and subdivided internally to provide a top receivingchamber and a bottom collecting chamber. The receiving chambercommunicates with the collecting chamber solely via a one-way valve.

The one-way valve is constituted by a strip of polythene folded over andsealed at the free edges opposite the fold to form a flat tube wider atthe top than the bottom. The valve tube is welded to one wall of thecollecting chamber with its inlet, i.e. its top, in communication withthe receiving chamber and its outlet i.e. its bottom, in communicationwith the collecting chamber. The bottom of the valve tube is free of thecollecting chamber wall but is maintained thereagainst by a stiffener ofconvenient construction, say a flexible but rigid plastic strip securedto the wall with the free outlet end of the valve tube between the walland the stiffener. The outlet end of the valve tube may be formed ofthicker or heavier polythene than the remainder or it may be weighted.

A buffer, for example, a folded strip of polythene lies between the freeoutlet end of the valve tube and the collecting chamber wall to preventadhestion of the valve outlet to said wall.

The valve operates as follows:

Urine enters the valve through the inlet from the receiving chamber andflows downwards to the outlet towards the collecting chamber. Thepressure of the liquid causes the valve to assume a substantiallycylindrical shape, thus allowing egress ofliquid from the valve into thecollecting chamber.

When all the liquid has passed through the valve, it reverts to itsflattened position. If any liquid attempts to flow through the valvefrom outlet to inlet, the weight and pressure of this liquid causes thefree outlet end of the valve tube to fold over relative to the stiffenerthus preventing such flow in reverse direction through the valve.

Any other convenient form of one-way valve may be employed.

The collecting chamber has at its bottom an outlet closed by a lug.

integral polythene strips are provided on the bag to allow attachment ofthe bag to the lower abdomen and leg of the wearer.

The inlet mouth of the bag is suitably padded with plastic foam of sayelliptical cross section which acts as a cushion, a seal, and ananti-splash device. The foam pad is preferably bounded to the inside ofthe receiving chamber.

The collecting chamber preferably incorporates stabilizing baffles ofpolythene, and a flexible rod extends from the receiving chamber intothe valve to ensure that the latter is always properly disposed relativeto the wearer irrespective of the disposition of the incontinencedevice.

The bag is attached to the lower abdomen and one leg of the sufferer bythe polythene strips and extends down between the legs with the inletmouth suitably disposed to receive any urine expelled by the suflerer.Urine discharged into the receiving chamber flows through the valve asdescribed above into the collecting chamber. Due to the nature of theone-way valve, there can be no backflow of urine.

At appropriate intervals, the bag is removed and the collecting chamberoutlet opened to allow the urine to be suitably drained away.

The bag may be supported on the wearer's lower abdomen by means otherthan the integral polythene strips, for example, by tape garters 38 (seeFIG. 5) or it may form part of a pair of pants or briefs 39 (see FIG.7). In the latter case, a clearance 40, is left for the rectum andbuttocks.

The above described one-way valve may be used in arrangements other thanincontinence devices. i

As a result of the present invention, there IS provided an mcontinencedevice which is cheap to produce, completely efficient in use andcomfortable and non-embarrassing to wear. It is stable when worn due toits connecting and strapping devices and is easily and convenientlyemptied after use.

Most importantly it is designed to keep a patient (female or male) dryduring incontinence irrespective of the patients physical attitude ormental condition.

I claim:

1. An incontinence device comprising a flexible bag of water-proofplastic material, means for securing the bag to wearers abdomen andupper leg, a closable outlet at the bottom of the bag, and a one-wayvalve inside the bag dividing the bag into an upper urine receivingchamber and a lower urine collecting chamber, and including arelatively-wide flat openended tube of water-tight plastic materialwider at its open top than at its open bottom, said tube being securedto one internal side of the bag, a pocketed flap at one side of the flattube free of the bag side and upstream of the open bottom, and a weighthoused in the free pocketed flap.

2. The incontinence device as claimed in claim 1 for use by femalepatients and comprising a rigid tube in communication with the inletopen top of the flat tube and adapted for insertion in the vaginalpassage to cover or overlie the urethra.

3. The incontinence device as claimed in claim 1 for use by femalepatients comprising a rigid member having a passage therethrough incommunication with the open top inlet of the flat tube and having anelongate inlet orifice, with said member being adapted to cover oroverlie the vaginal orifice or to be inserted in said orifice.

4. The incontinence device as claimed in claim 3, in which the vaginalmember has a skirt adapted to lie under the wearerabdomen between thelegs.

5. The incontinence device as claimed in claim 1 for use by malepatients and comprising a receptacle adapted to receive at least thepenis of the genital organs.

6. The incontinence device for use by female patients as claimed inclaim 1 including a rigid tube having a tubular portion in communicationwith the inlet open top of the flat tube, and an arcuate wall integralwith the tubular portion for insertion in the vaginal passage.

7. An incontinence device for use by female patients, comprising aflexible bag of water-proof material incorporating a urine collectingchamber having an inlet and a closable outlet, a one-way valve at thecollecting chamber inlet to allow flow only into the collecting chamber,a rigid tube including a tubular portion in communication with theone-way valve inlet, an arcuate wall integral with the tubular portionfor insertion in the vaginal passage and an integral ring remote fromthe tubular portion at the free end of the wall to accommodate aninternal sanitary towel or the like, and means for supporting the bagrelative to the patient so as to receive and collect urine as and whenmicturition occurs.

1. An incontinence device comprising a flexible bag of waterproofplastic material, means for securing the bag to a wearer''s abdomen andupper leg, a closable outlet at the bottom of the bag, and a one-wayvalve inside the bag dividing the bag into an upper urine receivingchamber and a lower urine collecting chamber, and including arelatively-wide flat open-ended tube of water-tight plastic materialwider at its open top than at its open bottom, said tube being securedto one internal side of the bag, a pocketed flap at one side of the flattube free of the bag side and upstream of the open bottom, and a weighthoused in the free pocketed flap.
 2. The incontinence device as claimedin claim 1 for use by female patients and comprising a rigid tube incommunication with the inlet open top of the flat tube and adapted forinsertion in the vaginal passage to cover or overlie the urethra.
 3. Theincontinence device as claimed in claim 1 for use by female patientscomprising a rigid member having a passage therethrough in communicationwith the open top inlet of the flat tube and having an elongate inletorifice, with said member being adapted to cover or overlie the vaginalorifice or to be inserted in said orifice.
 4. The incontinence device asclaimed in claim 3, in which the vaginal member has a skirt adapted tolie under the wearer''s abdomen between the legs.
 5. The incontinencedevice as claimed in claim 1 for use by male patients and comprising areceptacle adapted to receive at least the penis of the genital organs.6. The incontinence device for use by female patients as claimed inclaim 1 including a rigid tube having a tubular portion in communicationwith the inlet open top of the flat tube, and an arcuate wall integralwith the tubular portion for insertion in the vaginal passage.
 7. Anincontinence device for use by female patients, comprising a flexiblebag of water-proof material incorporating a urine collecting chamberhaving an inlet and a closable outlet, a one-way valve at the collectingchamber inlet to allow flow only into the collecting chamber, a rigidtube including a tubular portion in communication with the one-way valveinlet, an arcuate wall integral with the tubular portion for insertionin the vaginal passage and an integral ring remote from the tubularportion at the free end of the wall to accomodate an internal sanitarytowel or the like, and means for supporting the bag relative to thepatient so aS to receive and collect urine as and when micturitionoccurs.